Artificial bait



Filed Dec. 19, 1945 A. .3. R. HELMUS 2,430,114

ARTIFICIAL BAI Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv ARTIFICIAL BAIT Andrew J. R. Helmus, St. Petersburg, Fla. Application December 19, 1945, Serial No. 635,865

3 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial bait, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character having means whereby the bait may be propelled through the water in such a wa as to simulate the movements of a fish.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for causing the artificial bait to move slowly in a circular path through the water to attract fish.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of artificial bait constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2 -2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the rear end of the artificial bait, showing the spring as wound on the propeller shaft for rotating the propeller shaft.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the rear portion of the artificial bait, the spring being shown as rewinding on the stationary shaft of the device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the body portion of the artificial bait, which is preferably constructed of sections secured together by any suitable means, the sections being hollow so that when they are placed together, a compartment is provided within the body portion.

Mounted within the body portion at a point adjacent to the rear end thereof, is a stationary horizontal shaft 6 to which one end of the spring I is secured, as by means of the pin l the spring being so constructed that the normal tendency of the spring is to wind on the shaft 6. Disposed in parallel spaced relation with the shaft 6, is the propeller shaft 8 to which the opposite end of the spring I is connected as by means of the pin 8', the shaft 8 being of a length to extend through the side walls of the body portion 5, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the shaft providing a support for the propellers 9 and l 0, which are shown as mounted on the extended ends of the shaft 8. One end of the shaft 8 is squared as at H, to receive a suitable key for rotating the shaft to wind the sprin 1 from the shaft 6 onto the shaft 8 in a manner as shown by Figure 3 of the drawing. In order that the normal action of the spring I in winding on the shaft 6, will be retarded, the spring arm I2 is provided, the spring arm l2 being secured within the body portion by means of screws l3, the opposite end of the spring arm being curved as at l4, where it rests on the spring. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, friction is set up between the arm l2 and spring 1 to retard movement of the spring as it is winding on the shaft 6, resulting in the rotation of shaft 8 and propellers mounted thereon.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the propeller i0 is appreciably larger than the propeller 9 so that when the propellers are in operation, the body portion will be caused to move in a circular path simulatin the movements of live bait, to attract fish.

The forward end of the body portion is cut away as at l5 so that the front end of the body portion will be slightly elevated as it is passing through the water, the water contacting the lower curved surface of the front end of the body. Secured to the front end of the body portion is a hook I6, while secured to the bottom of the body are similar hooks ll, so arranged that a fish attempting to grab the bait from practically any angle, will be caught by one of the hooks.

At the rear of the body portion are hooks I8. An eye member indicated at I9 is secured to the body portion at a point intermediate the ends thereof, to which a fishin line may be secured in using the artificial bait for fishing purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided artificial bait having mechanical means for propelling it through the water to simulate the movement of live bait.

What is claimed is:

1. Artificial bait comprising a hollow body portion to which fish hooks are secured, spaced parallel horizontal shafts mounted within the body portion, one of the shafts being immovable, the opposite shaft being movable, the ends of the movable shaft being extended through the sides of the body portion, providing a propeller shaft, propellers secured to the ends of the propeller shaft, a spring so constructed and arranged that it normally winds on the immovable shaft, said spring adapted to be wound on the propeller shaft placing the propeller shaft under tension, rotating said propeller shaft and propellers.

2. Artificial bait comprising a hollow body portion to which fish hooks are secured, spaced parallel horizontal shafts mounted within the body portion, one of the shafts being immovable, the opposite shaft being movable, the ends of the latter shaft extending through the sides of the body portion, providing a propeller shaft, propellers secured to the ends of the propeller shaft, one of the propellers being larger than the other propeller, a spring constructed to normally wind on the immovable shaft, said spring adapted .to be wound on the propeller shaft placing the propeller shaft under tension to rotate the propeller shaft as the spring unwinds from the propeller shaft, and means for retarding the movements of the propeller shaft. s

3. Artificial bait comprising a hollow body portion to which fish hooks are secured, spaced parallel horizontal shafts mounted within the body portion, one of the shafts being immovable, the opposite shaft being movable and providing a propeller shaft, the ends of the propeller shaft extending through the sides of the body portion, propellers mounted on the extended ends of the propeller shaft, one propeller being larger than the other propeller, a spring constructed to normally wind on the immovable shaft, said spring adapted to be wound on the propeller shaft placing the propeller shaft under tension, whereby saidpropeller shaft and propellers are rotated as the spring unwinds from the propeller shaft, a spring arm secured within the body portion, said spring arm having its free end curved and fitted over the spring, frictionally engaging the spring, retarding movement of the spring.

ANDREW J. R. HELMUS. 

